Zaïd Bafdili
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 25 October 2007 | ||
| Place of birth | Brussels, Belgium | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Jong Genk | ||
| Number | 66 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2020 | RSC Anderlecht | ||
| 2020–2022 | KV Mechelen | ||
| 2022– | KRC Genk | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024– | Jong Genk | 19 | (0) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Belgium U15 | 5 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Belgium U16 | 12 | (3) |
| 2023–2024 | Belgium U17 | 7 | (1) |
| 2024– | Belgium U18 | 5 | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 January 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18 November 2024 | |||
Zaïd Bafdili (born 25 October 2007) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Jong Genk.
Early life
Bafdili was born on 25 October 2007 in Brussels, Belgium. Of Moroccan descent through his parents, he is the cousin of Belgian footballer Bilal Bafdili and the brother of Belgian footballer Dalil Bafdili.[1]
Club career
As a youth player, Bafdili joined the youth academy of RSC Anderlecht. In 2020, he joined the youth academy of KV Mechelen. Two years later, he joined the youth academy of KRC Genk and was promoted to the club's reserve team in 2024. On 10 November 2023, he debuted for them during a 1–3 away loss to SL16 in the league.[2]
Style of play
Bafdili plays as a midfielder and is right-footed. German news website Transfermarkt wrote in 2025 that he "possesses wonderful game intelligence...is composed under pressure, has an accomplished passing range and smart decision-making" and he has received comparisons to Italy international Marco Verratti.[3]
References
- ^ "Zaïd (16) is de derde en jongste profvoetballer in de familie Bafdili: "Droom om ooit samen te spelen met broer en neef"" [Zaïd (16) is the third and youngest professional footballer in the Bafdili family: "Dream to one day play with my brother and cousin"] (in Dutch). Het Belang van Limburg. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Zaïd Bafdili (16) hoopt in 2024 op extra speelminuten bij Jong Genk: "Ik wacht op mijn kans, en die zal ik zeker grijpen"" [Zaïd Bafdili (16) hopes for extra playing minutes at Jong Genk in 2024: "I'm waiting for my chance, and I will definitely take it"] (in Dutch). Het Nieuwsblad. 26 December 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
- ^ "Who is Zaïd Bafdili? Man Utd target Belgium wonderkid compared to Marco Verratti". Transfermarkt. 23 April 2025. Retrieved 24 April 2025.